A1 Cucina Italiana Replaces Il Buco in Beverly Hills

This makes sense. In the midst of launching a high end sushi concept in Beverly Hills, owner Giacomino Drago has decided to retire Il Buco, his Italian trattoria on Robertson. New management Danilo Terribili of the shuttered Pastagina, Alto Palato, and Rex, along with executive chef Fredy Escobar also of Rex and Alto Palato, move in to launch A1 Cucina Italiana later this month.

Named after the A1 Autostrada - the first Italian motorway to be built that connects Milan with Naples via Bologna, Florence, and Rome - A1 Cucina aims to tie together the myriad of cuisines native to Italy with a contemporary spin. Think thin crust pizza with Swiss chard, guanciale, and toasted pine nuts; Mediterranean Dorade with grilled friarielli peppers; and pappardelle in a braised lamb ragu. [EaterWire]